In one of the city photography galleries the proprietor
had a show case in which he exhibited pictures which the sitters failed to call for, he labeled it,
"Shades Of The Departed."

~ Abraham Bogardus, 1895 ~

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The Carnival's In Town - Smile 20th Edition

20th EDITION

Smile For The Camera16 February 2010

My Valentine this year is you. Yes, you! You who read Shades and you who participate in Smile For The Camera. You are the best group of people with whom I have ever been associated. I send you love and thanks for being so understanding while I have been ill, thanks for your offers of assistance. You are the very best.

While Smiling For The Camera you spread the love around. Old valentines, old loves, treasures, family. You'll find them all pictured here. Family history and its historians have a lot of heart. But you already knew that.

Let's open the cover of this edition of Smile For The Camera's Valentine album and get our ticket punched.

Dorene from Ohio,The Graveyard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay, says that, "From 1900 through the 1950's, Leroy and Ada Parker were longterm Valentines." They were married for over fifty years and gave their family some wonderful memories. Dorene pulls it all together in a very compelling and well-written post.

Our intrepid GeneaExplorer, Becky Wiseman of "Where In The World Is Becky of Kinexxions" fame has given us what she calls the closest thing to a valentine. Well, Becky, we should all get that close. How truly lovely! Becky, last seen in Texas. P.S. Yes, it's very warm here for the Olympics.

Kay Bauman of Kay B's Place tells us, "Their first Valentine Day, as a dating couple, was in February 1928 and Claude gave Ottie a framed card. Ottie must have cherished the card since she kept it throughout her life . . ." Perfect title, perfect photograph, perfect match.

"Schoolmates since kindergarten and sweethearts after high school graduation--my parents." Linda Hughes Hiser of Flipside introduces us to her parents in their engagement photograph along with the card that accompanied 13 roses on Valentine's Day 1940. I loved this post.

The California Genealogical Society and Library represented by Kathryn Doyle, submits a Valentine from its manuscript collection, stretching ninety linear feet on the shelves. It is neither paper nor person, so you'll just have to visit to view a truly unique family artifact. While you're there, please check out the information on theCarnival of Genealogical Societies first edition - Doin' Things Right! Shine a spotlight on a specific program, project, or publication at a genealogical society and tell us why it worked. Tell an anecdote about how you benefited from a particular genealogical society service. Share a success story and be specific! The deadline for submissions is March 7, 2010.

Fellow Washingtonian, Charles Hansen of Mikkel's Hus, has a real treat when it comes to a Valentine. Cousin to cousin, child to child. Absolutely adorable. I do love the time before email when mail was mail and waiting was good for you.

"There is only one special Valentine memory for me - and it's an oldie but a goodie! Somehow I found a wonderful woman to share my life with, and have been smiling and laughing ever since." THE romantic of this band of GeneaBloggers is Randy Seaver of GeneaMusings! I love this man, just don't tell the lovely Linda. Sorry about the lipstick. This is a love story not to miss!

Don't you just love Wordless Wednesday; because nobody can be. Wordless that is. Well, neither could Amanda (The Librarian) of ABT UNK, and we're all the richer for it. Amanda post tells us that, "If I had to write my memoir in six words:. . . " I won't spoil Amanda's brilliant answer. Go see for yourself.

Donna Pointkouski of What's Past Is Prologue has a lovely photograph of her grandparents who were each other’s valentines for a long time. Boy, can my friend Donner write; I love the back story. “Her? Oh, she’s justmy sister” has probably been said to many a future brother-in-law. Visit Donna and see how the story ended.

Leave it to one of my favorite bloggers to find that rare sentimental Valentine we must all work so hard to emulate. Pardon me while I remove my tongue from my cheek.Lorine McGinnis Schulze has posted this Valentine at Olive Tree Genealogy saying "One of the oddest Valentine postcards I've seen in terms of sentiment expressed by the sender!" Lorine, where do you get them?

The woman who proudly advertises "I'm Addicted To Genealogy," demonstrates she has one of the required traits. She's a keeper. Pam Taylor of Taylorstales Genealogy kept this handmade valentine from one of her eight children. A family treasure. Yes, that is beautiful handwriting.

"My mom wasn't someone you'd think of as "mysterious" but she had her secrets. I'd love to know more about her beau Mike..." says Jasia of Creative Gene. Jasia has created a beautiful scrapbook page and a very interesting story to accompany it. Some of the information for her submission was gleaned from a Grandparent book. "It's amazing what a grandparent will share with a grandchild." A poignant reminder of our obligation to share.

I love new technology and so does Carol of Reflections From The Fence. She used a free online program to create a scrapbook page of her valentines. Very impressive. She went to, wait, I'll let Carol tell you all about it!

Nancy, Fermazin Family, begins the valentine tribute to her mother with the women who came before her. A story of covered wagons, homesteading and the depression. It is this ancestral strength that enabled Grace to overcome a tragic childhood. "I cannot imagine losing a mother at age 12 nor then losing your father and then your sister. How tragic." Nancy has created a magnificent scrapbook page tribute to accompany a well-written story you will find compelling.

foonoteMaven closes the album cover on this edition of Smile For The Camera by saying to every GeneaBlogger and Shades reader who takes the time to participate in Smile for the Camera, "You are my Valentines."

Thank You All!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this fantastic 20th Edition of Smile For The Camera. Welcome to all the first-time contributors. It is evident from each and every photographic submission and accompanying post that a great deal of time, effort, love, and research went into each contribution. As Randy Seaver would say, please take a moment to stop and comment and show your appreciation!

Now The Call For Submissions!

21st EDITION

Smile For The Camera

10 March 2010

The word prompt for the 21st Edition of Smile For The Camerais "Give Their Face A Place." March is Women's History month and you are asked to picture women back into history. The unknown, known and unsung women who are often the foundation of our family history. Give their face a place. The interpretation is yours. Admission is free with every photograph!

Your submission may include as many or as few words as you feel are necessary to describe your treasured photograph. Those words may be in the form of an expressive comment, a quote, a journal entry, a poem (your own or a favorite), a scrapbook page, or a heartfelt article. The choice is yours!

Deadline for submission is midnight (PT)10 March 2010

HOW TO SUBMIT:

There are two options:

1. Send an email to the host, footnoteMaven. Include the title and permalink URL of the post you are submitting, your name, and the name of your blog. Put 'Smile For The Camera' clearly in the title of your email!

Thank you, footnoteMaven, for putting these carnivals together. Your introductions always make me want to read every single blog. The carnivals are a great way to learn about other blogs, too. Thanks, again.

Guest Authors

Write The Editor

About Shades Of The Departed

I have been collecting photographs for over twenty years. This blog will discuss that collection, the types of categories I've developed for that collection, and the types of photographs I collect.
I will also share with you what I've learned or am learning about scanning, creating a database, analyzing and dating my collection, and anything else that strikes my fancy related to photography and my collection.

About The Collector

I am fascinated by the clues left in the photographs I collect. Every picture is a miniature mystery and I love a mystery.

My grandfather was a photographer who traveled with the famous Burton Holmes. I am fortunate to have original photographs by
both men.

When I was ten my grandfather gave me a camera as a birthday gift. It was evident that I did not inherit the "photographer gene."
I have taken only one photograph in my entire life that I liked, but I know a good one when I see it.

I am a great appreciator.

Fortunately, I don't take myself too seriously. I know enough about
collecting photographs to know I don't know everything, but I am learning.